"More than two months later, I have yet to receive an official response,” said Hastings. The Florida Democrat notes that the administration has requested another 17,000 troops for Afghanistan and warns that the military can’t afford to lose more soldiers to the 1993 policy, which he argued results in the loss of two service members per day.

"While I commend Secretary [Robert] Gates and the Pentagon’s general counsel for their continued efforts to identify possible provisional measures, you can take action right now. I sincerely hope that your administration will make ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ a priority and do everything in its power to repeal this ridiculous, bigoted law once and for all."

Comments

Rep. Hastings, I'm with you on this one. President Obama should have taken care of this one already. He should have at minimum issued an executive order placing a hold on DADT until Congress passed a law permanently end the discrimination of gays in the military. This is a basic equal protection case. Congress is not going to threaten President Obama with passing a law banning gays in the military like they did under President Clinton.

As I've said numerous times before, I'm not interested in the blessings and sympathies of straight people towards the LGBT community. I only care about laws on the books and policies that protect us from discrimination and persecution. We are a nation of laws, and those laws should never take a backseat to ignorance, intolerance, bigotry, hatred, or religious views. President Obama is the perfect person to make that case. And I'm disappointed that he hasn't done so. I have sent several letters to President Obama saying that and more. Mr. Obama step up and carry out your constitutional duties. Your concerns should not be wasted on those who will have a hard time accepting change. The right thing should always win out over wrongdoing.

"Your concerns should not be wasted on those who will have a hard time accepting change. The right thing should always win out over wrongdoing."

Absolutely true, Ravenback. My...our President seems hell bent on "inclusion" of the conservatives. I kinda' understand the concept, but it aint working. So, why keep trying to appease those right-wing motha' fu--kas? I keep thinking that it's a strategy that he and Rahm Emanuel have stuck to...but it's so infuriating to the Presidents base of support (I'm mean white liberals and gays--black folks are still with him solidly.) But here I go again with politics while you (Ravenback) are talking about justice.